Three frigates are set to be axed from Adelaide’s Hunter warship build as part of a major restructuring of the Australian Navy.
The Defence Minister will release a long-awaited response to a review of the Navy’s surface fleet today.
It will reveal the cost of building the original nine frigates has blown out by almost $20 billion.
To make up for the reduction in frigates, a new fleet of next-generation air warfare destroyers will be built.
They are aimed at countering threats posed by China.
